Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Well, first of all, you definitely have a little male keet.  The bright
    blue cere indicates that. Females have a more pinky beige to brown
    cere.
    
    If your bird already has a blue cere then I would speculate that the
    bird is probably around 3+ months old and probably was in a large
    flight cage at the breeder's home as well as in the pet store or
    where ever you purchased the bird.  I would venture to say he could
    be even older.  if you look at his eyes , does he have a white iris
    as opposed to a completely dark or black eye?  That indicates that
    the bird is over 6 months or so.  If that's the case, then it will
    be quite difficult to tame him down to pet quality.  Not that it
    isn't impossible, however for a young girl it is discouraging.
    
    Also, an american budgie (which sounds like what you have), is much
    more active and skittish than an English budgie.
    
    If you are looking for a easy going pet that's easily trained then
    you should consider a bird not much older than 7-8 weeks old.  An
    english budgie is a much calmer and sweeter bird (and that's not
    because I breed them - I breed both but much prefer the disposition
    of the english).  Also, first rule in training a budgie is to clip
    the wings.  I sell all my babies just out of nest with clipped wings
    if I know it will be going as a pet.  That's the key to having a great
    little pet.
    
    Unfortunately you have a wild little guy that would probably work best
    as a breeder.  If you want to talk about a possible trade, let me know
    and I can fix you up with a sweet baby. (I have about 10 in the nests
    right now.)
    
    Your daughter will really enjoy a real baby and will be able to do so
    much more with it.
    
    Regards,
    Denise
    
    P.S.  If you wish to keep your little guy, then get his wings clipped
    before you try to work with him.  Once he sees he can't fly, then he
    will become more dependent on you.
    
    Best of luck on whatever you decide to do!

Thanks for the info.

I guess I did not mention that we have had him for several months.  In fact
I think we got him just after Christmas.  When we acquired him, I know he
was quite young, since stripes on his head right down his forehead.

Are you saying that ANY sign of blue means a male?  My last keet (about
10 years ago) had a very deep blue cere, so I was not quite sure about this
ambiguous color.

Anyway, the cage at the pet store, if I remember right, was quite open.  All
the birds were clipped, including Tyler.  We had him clipped again when we
had him out, but the whole experience was rather scary.  He did not seem to
think he needed us too much.  He would crawl around on the floor behind the
toilet (cover closed...don't worry!).

After a week or so we got him to the point that he would come out on a perch
(not on a finger), but he was never comfortable being with us.  That 
discouraged my daughter, so he has not been out for several months.

Thanks for the trade offer...I'll ask her, but I doubt she wants to do that.

Burns

    A clear blue cere does confirm that it is a male.  If the blue gets
    more pronounced or deeper that usually indicates it is in prime
    breeding condition or season.  Many keets that are lutino (yellow) or
    white may have a pink/to lavender color if it is a male.  I have seen
    some males just have a small "squiggle" of blue on the cere and the
    rest was either a pink or even a beige type color.  However, if the
    cere has any blue in it then it is 99% of the time a male to my
    knowledge.
    
    I believe that when you got your little guy he was probably very young
    if he had the stripes all the way down his forehead.  I didn't use that
    as an indicator in my previous note because today, there are so many
    color mutations and variations, many babies are born without any lines.
    (Opalines for instance).
    
    It sounds like your bird needs to be taken out daily on an ongoing
    basis.  Even if it appears scared, it will eventually come to look
    forward to it.  He needs to have interaction, and if he doesn't get
    it he will stay wild.  And that is fine if you just want a bird to
    admire and not interact with.  if that is the case, then I strongly
    recommend that you get it a companion.  However if your daughter takes
    time to work with him each day then don't get another since he will
    then devote all his attention to the other bird.
    
    Best of luck to you.   Just keep working with him.
    
    Regards,
    Denise.

Thanks for then encouragement.  As I imagined, I suggested swapping him,
and she said, "Dad...what kind of a parent do you think I am?"

Anyway, I looked more closely today, and Tyler's cere is really not
especially blue (any more?)  He is a sort of normal marking blue and white
bird, but the cere is pretty much neutral-color.  I could have sworn it
was more blue when we first got him.

Ah well...

Burns

    Many very young birds sport a rather lavender to light blue cere,
    however that usually changes within the first 2-3 months at the most.
    If it is hen then it will turn a neutral or beige color.  If it is
    a male then it will become a more pronounced or deeper blue.  I checked
    on my babies that are about 3 months old last night and I can now
    clearly differentiate the males from the females.
    
    Your bird does act more like a hen than a male.  Hens are less likely
    to bond easily with humans than the cocks.  I can usually tell right
    from the time my baby american budgies are 3 weeks old which will be
    the hens simply because they will be the ones trying to bite me or
    escape from my hand.  The cocks will be gentle and more docile.  I
    find that I am mostly right by this indication.
    
    I know how your daughter feels and she is right!  She loves her little
    bird and all she needs to do is work with it...daily.
    
    Regards,
    Denise